Police: Questions arise over fatal-beating charges

Brian Keith Brown looks toward the gallery after pleading not guilty in July to second-degree murder in an altercation that led to the death of traffic-circle gardener James Paroline. (Joshua Trujillo/P-I)

The case against the man accused of killing a gardener at a Rainier Valley traffic circle has drawn questions about the fairness of the state’s felony murder law, thrown out and quickly resurrected six years ago.

P-I reporter Levi Pulkkinen has the stroy, which involves the punch that killed James Paroline at a Rainier Valley traffic circle, here.

To read the initial story about Paroline’s death, click here. More details about Brown’s arrest can be found here.